2002 SUBARU IMPREZA Owners Manual

7
7-1
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Fuel 7-2
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Fuel requirements 7-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel filler lid and cap 7-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State emission testing (U.S. only) 7-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preparing to drive 7-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting the engine 7-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting the engine for a manual transmission vehicle 7-8
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Starting the engine for an automatic
transmission vehicle 7-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting the engine during cold weather below –4 °F ( –20 °C) 7-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting a flooded engine 7-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stopping the engine 7-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manual transmission 7-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shifting speeds 7-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving tips 7-12
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Automatic transmission 7-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selector lever for automatic transmission 7-14 . . . .
Shift lock release 7-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear viscous limited slip differential
(LSD) (if equipped) 7-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power steering 7-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Braking 7-21
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Braking tips 7-21
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Brake system 7-21
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Disc brake pad wear warning indicators 7-22 . . . . . .
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) 7-22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ABS system self-check 7-23
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ABS warning light 7-23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking your vehicle 7-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control (if equipped) 7-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To set cruise control 7-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To temporarily cancel the cruise control 7-28 . . . . . .
To turn off the cruise control 7-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To change the cruising speed 7-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting and operating

Starting and operating
7-2
Fuel
CAUTION
Use of a fuel which is low in quality or use of an inappropriate fuel additive may cause en- gine damage.
Fuel requirements
2.5 Liter models
The 2.5 Liter engine is designed to operate using
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI or
higher.
2.0 Liter (turbo) models
The 2.0 Liter turbo engine is designed to operate
using premium unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating of 91 AKI or higher. If premium unleaded gas-
oline is not available, regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI or higher may be tempo-
rarily used. For optimum engine performance and
driveability, it is recommended that you use pre-
mium grade unleaded gasoline.
Fuel octane rating
This octane rating is the average of the ResearchOctane and Motor Octane numbers and is com-
monly referred to as the Anti Knock Index (AKI).Using a gasoline with a lower octane rating cancause persistent and heavy knocking, which can
damage the engine. Do not be concerned if your
vehicle sometimes knocks lightly when you drive up a hill or when you accelerate. See your dealer or a
qualified service technician if you use a fuel with thespecified octane rating and your vehicle knocks
heavily or persistently.
Unleaded gasoline
The neck of the fuel filler pipe is designed to acceptonly an unleaded gasoline filler nozzle. Under no
circumstances should leaded gasoline be used be-
cause it will damage the emission control system
and may impair driveability and fuel economy.
Gasoline for California-certified LEV
Your vehicle was certified to California ’s low emis-
sion vehicle (LEV) standards as indicated on the
underhood tune-up label. It is designed to optimize
engine and emission performance with gasoline that
meets the clean burning low-sulfur California gaso-
line specifications. If you live in any other state than
California, your vehicle will operate on gasoline

Starting and operating
7-3
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meeting Federal specifications. Gasoline sold out-
side California is permitted to have higher sulfur lev-
els, which may affect the performance of your ve-
hicle’s catalytic converter and may produce a sulfur
exhaust odor or smell. SUBARU recommends that
you try a different brand of unleaded gasoline hav-
ing lower sulfur to determine if the problem is fuel
related before returning your vehicle to an autho-rized dealer for service.
Gasoline for cleaner air
Your use of gasoline with detergent additives will
help prevent deposits from forming in your engine
and fuel system. This helps keep your engine in
tune and your emission control system working
properly, and is a way of doing your part for cleaner
air. If you continuously use a high quality fuel with
the proper detergent and other additives, youshould never need to add any fuel system cleaning agents to your fuel tank.
Many gasolines are now blended with materials
called oxygenates. Use of these fuels can also help
keep the air cleaner. Oxygenated blend fuels, such
as MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl ether) or ethanol
(ethyl or grain alcohol) may be used in your vehicle,
but should contain no more than 15% MTBE or 10%
ethanol for the proper operation of your SUBARU. In addition, some gasoline suppliers are now pro-
ducing reformulated gasolines, which are designed
to reduce vehicle emissions. SUBARU approves the
use of reformulated gasoline.
If you are not sure what the fuel contains, you should
ask your service station operators if their gasolines
contain detergents and oxygenates and if they have
been reformulated to reduce vehicle emissions.
As additional guidance, only use fuels suited for
your vehicle as explained below.
Fuel should be unleaded and have an octane rat-
ing no lower than that specified in this manual. Methanol (methyl or wood alcohol) is sometimes
mixed with unleaded gasoline. Methanol can beused in your vehicle ONLY if it does not exceed 5%
of the fuel mixture AND if it is accompanied by suffi-
cient quantities of the proper cosolvents and corro-
sion inhibitors required to prevent damage to the
fuel system. Do not use fuel containing methanolEXCEPT under these conditions.
If undesirable driveability problems are experi-
enced and you suspect they may be fuel related, try
a different brand of gasoline before seeking service
at your SUBARU dealer. Fuel system damage or driveability problems
which result from the use of improper fuel are not

Starting and operating
7-4
covered under the SUBARU Limited Warranty.
CAUTION
Do not let fuel spill on the exterior surfaces of the vehicle. Fuels containing alcohol may
cause paint damage, which is not covered un-
der the SUBARU Limited Warranty.
Fuel filler lid and cap
Refueling
HG7004BA
HG7005BA
1. To open the fuel filler lid, pull the lid release lever up.
HB3008BC
1) Open 2) Close

Starting and operating
7-5
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2. Remove the fuel filler cap by turning it slowly
counterclockwise.
WARNING
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. Before
refueling, always first stop the engine and
make sure that there are no lighted cigarettes,open flames or electrical sparks in the adja-cent area. When opening the cap, do not remove the
cap quickly. Fuel may be under pressure andspray out of the fuel filler neck especially in
hot weather, which may cause injury.
3. Stop filling the tank after the fuel filler pump auto-
matically stops. Do not add any more fuel.
4. Put the cap back on, turn it clockwise until you
hear a clicking noise. Be certain not to catch the
tether under the cap while tightening.
5. Close the fuel filler lid completely.
If you spill any fuel on the painted surface, rinse it
off immediately. Otherwise, the painted surface
could be damaged. NOTE If the fuel filler cap is not tightened until it clicks or if the tether is caught under the cap, the CHECK ENGINE warning light may come on. Re-fer to the
“Warning and indicator lights ” section
located in chapter 3.CAUTION
Never add any cleaning agents to the fuel
tank. The addition of a cleaning agent may
cause damage to the fuel system. Make sure that the cap is tightened until it
clicks to prevent fuel spillage in the event ofan accident. Do not let fuel spill on the exterior surfaces
of the vehicle.Fuels may cause paint damage, which is not
covered under the SUBARU Limited Warranty. Always use a genuine SUBARU fuel filler
cap. If you use the wrong cap, it may not fit orhave proper venting, and your fuel tank and
emission control system might be damaged.

Starting and operating
7-6
State emission testing (U.S. only) At state inspection time, remember to tell your inspection or service station in advance not to
place your Subaru AWD vehicle on a two-wheel
dynamometer. Otherwise, serious transmission
damage will result.
Some states have started using dynamometers in
their state inspection programs in order to meet their
obligation under federal law to implement stricter
vehicle emission standards to reduce air pollution
from cars. A dynamometer is a treadmill or roller-like testing device that allows your car ’s wheels to turn
while the car remains in one place. Depending onthe severity of a state ’s air pollution problems, the
states must adopt either a “basic” or “enhanced”
vehicle emission inspection test. Normally, a portion of the basic emission test consists of an emission
inspector inserting an analyzer probe into the
exhaust pipe of an idling vehicle for a short period
of time. States with more severe air pollution prob-
lems are required to adopt an enhanced vehicleemission test. This test simulates actual driving
conditions on a dynamometer and permits more
accurate measurement of tailpipe emitted pollution
than the basic emission test. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)and states using two-wheel dynamometers in their
emission testing programs have
EXEMPTED
Subaru AWD vehicles from the portion of the testing
program that involves a two-wheel dynamometer.
There are some states that use four-wheel
dynamometers in their testing programs. When
properly used, that equipment will not damage an
AWD Subaru vehicle.
Under no circumstances should the rear wheels be
jacked off the ground, nor should the driveshaft be
disconnected for state emission testing.
WARNING
Testing of an All-Wheel Drive vehicle must
NEVER be performed on a single two-wheel
dynamometer. Attempting to do so will resultin uncontrolled vehicle movement and may
cause an accident or injuries to persons
nearby.

Starting and operating
7-7
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CAUTION
Resultant vehicle damage due to improper testing is not covered under the SUBARU Lim-
ited Warranty and is the responsibility of the state inspection program or its contractors orlicensees. Preparing to drive
You should perform the following checks and adjust-
ments every day before you start driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and lights are
clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the appearance and condition of the tires.
Also check tires for proper inflation.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of the leaks.
4. Check that the hood, trunk and rear gate are fullyclosed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside
mirrors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your passen-gers have fastened their seatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warning and indicator
lights when the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON”
position.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warning lights
after starting the engine. NOTE Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, washer
fluid and other fluid levels should be checked
daily, weekly or at fuel stops.